Millard lawyer warns against 'rush to judgment' in Bosma killing

Dellen Millard, who faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Tim Bosma, is getting accustomed to his environment in a Hamilton jail, says his lawyer, Deepak Paradkar. (Joanna Ward/CBC)

The two men charged with the slaying of Hamilton resident Tim Bosma made a brief court appearance Thursday in Hamilton via video link, and their case was remanded until August.

Lawyers for Dellen Millard, 27, and Mark Smich, 25, were given more time to prepare their cases.

Millard is currently at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre getting "accustomed to his environment," said Deepak Paradkar, the Toronto lawyer defending him.

Paradkar urged those observing the case to allow it to play out in the courts.

"There shouldn't be a rush to judgment. Often cases appear to be much stronger than they are initially," he said outside court. "I say step back, wait for everything to unfold at trial and just give a fair hearing to Mr. Millard."

Tim Bosma, shown with his wife Sharlene, was last seen on May 6. (Facebook)

"He has to mentally prepare for the long road ahead," said Paradkar, adding that his client is in protective segregation in his cell for 23.5 hours per day.

Jennifer Trehearne of Toronto appeared in court representing Smich.

Bosma, 32, was selling his pickup truck on the internet and last seen taking two strangers on a test drive in May.

On Thursday, Millard and Smich appeared on the screen separately in orange jumpsuits, saying little as the judge scheduled their next appearance. Millard is also charged with forcible confinement and theft of a vehicle. Both plan to plead not guilty.

Toronto police are taking a close look at the case of Laura Babcock, 23, who disappeared in June 2012. Friends of the Toronto woman say she and Millard were once in a relationship.

Millard has not been interviewed by Toronto investigators, Paradkar said, and any connection is "utter speculation."

Dellen Millard is charged with first-degree murder of Hamilton resident Tim Bosma, who disappeared in early May after taking two men on a test drive of his truck. Bosma's remains were later found and Millard was one of two men charged. (Facebook)

Police are also taking another look at the suicide of Millard's father, Wayne, last year.

Millard was interviewed briefly by Toronto police on that matter, but "as far as the family is concerned, it was a non-criminal matter," Paradkar said.

Support for the Bosma family

Millard will appear in Hamilton court prior to Aug. 1 to be fingerprinted. On Aug. 1, the parties could set a date for a judicial pretrial.

At the case's current pace, there could be a preliminary hearing by next June, with a trial by the end of the year, Paradkar said.

Bosma lived in Ancaster with his wife and two-year-old daughter. His disappearance and death has caused a large outpouring of support from around Hamilton, including a fundraiser scheduled for Friday, June 14.